My understanding from talking to people in states like Indiana and Texas, a good chunk of them don't believe in a woman's ability to lead. If the DNC really wanted to progressive then a gay man is a safer bet than a woman of color just because of how many people in this country are racist / sexist. The safest bet would have been a straight white man that's charismatic and likeable but there's nobody. Gavin Newsom wouldn't have stood a chance either. The party is in dire straits when it comes to representing America.